This baked whole fish comes out of the oven with beautifully crisp skin and a glossy honey-mustard glaze that caramelizes as it bakes. Lemon, olive oil, and simple seasonings keep the flesh moist and flaky, making it a light yet satisfying centerpiece for any weeknight dinner. If you love simple seafood suppers, our Baked Red Fish with Vegetables is another easy favorite, and Allrecipes offers plenty of whole-fish inspiration.
Ingredients
- 1 whole fish, cleaned
- Fish seasoning, to taste
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 lemon
- 0.5 tsp honey
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp mustard
Instructions
- Clean and gut the fish, remove the gills, and score both sides.
- Season with salt, pepper, and fish seasoning inside and out.
- Squeeze lemon juice over both sides and inside.
- Mix the honey, olive oil, and mustard; brush over the top of the fish.
- Bake at 180C (350F) for 35 minutes.
Tips
- Score the skin so the glaze seeps in and the fish cooks evenly — Serious Eats has excellent guides on whole-fish technique.
- Do not overbake: the fish is done when the flesh flakes easily with a fork.
- For more baked fish ideas, try our Baked Fish with Yogurt Garlic Sauce and Tender Baked White Fish in Sour Cream Sauce.
Nutrition: per 100 g: 156 kcal, protein 16 g, fat 7 g, carbs 5 g.